In the first Season 5 episode of Technologically Speaking, host Dee Saini chats with Russell Becker, director of S&T’s Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, about the technologies in place that power our communities’ emergency response channels. Learn about challenges agencies face when responding to emergencies that cross jurisdictional lines, or that require multiple agencies to respond, and what S&T is doing to help responders stay connected and keep lines of emergency communication open.Â
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22:49
Capture Various Forms of Fentanyl
Biochemical and forensic experts from the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) visited one of the nation’s busiest (and loudest) ports of entry in Mariposa, Arizona. With this as our backdrop, listen as the group discusses research and development of a novel fentanyl detector designed to improve screening for illicit drugs. S&T’s Dan Conway leads a conversation with Dr. Andrea Wiggins of S&T’s Chemical Biological Detection and Defense Program; Travis Brown, S&T Program Manager for Forensics and Criminal Investigation; Dr. Laura Parker, S&T Senior Advisor on Sensors and Detection; and PNNL Senior Research Chemist Dr. Robert Ewing about how this new technology was demonstrated and could soon be used and overall challenges with combating the flow of fentanyl.
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9:35
From Zero to a Hundred in a Second
S&T and its National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) recently joined the U.S. Fire Administration and the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) for a workshop to address best practices and research needs for fighting lithium-ion battery fires. In this minisode, which was recorded at the FDNY Training Academy on Randall’s Island, you will hear from each agency about firsthand experiences firefighters are facing with electrification and how New York City serves as a model for other jurisdictions nationwide. In addition, S&T Acting Under Secretary Julie Brewer and NUSTL Division Director Orly Amir share how this issue is driving S&T research to support our first responders.
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6:15
Putting the Platform Above
In this Tech Speak minisode, the Science and Technology Directorate reports from a field in Mississippi where we tested a new type of drone system—the Bellbird Communications Platform—over the summer with first responders from across the country. With a microphone and a powerful speaker, the Bellbird facilitates important emergency messaging between responders and crowds. Maintaining clear communication without putting people at risk is something that could ultimately help keep everyone safe in challenging situations. Hear from some of the responder evaluators about how this technology meets their needs, as well as S&T Program Manager Brenda Long and National Urban Security Technology Laboratory Test Lead Bhargav Patel about how and why we conduct these types of field tests.   Â
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6:21
Ambassadors for Science
Host Brittany Greco has a fascinating discussion with Emily Saulsgiver, deputy director of S&T’s International Cooperative Programs Office (ICPO), which cultivates relationships with the partners that we need to advance science and technology around the world. ICPO identifies areas of mutual interest for cooperation, fosters scientific exchanges, and works with global counterparts to address shared challenges and spark innovation. Emily also lets us in on some of the lessons she’s learned along the way about the protocols of international negotiations and the best way to get to know a new country, and she answers an existential question: if you live out of a suitcase, is it easier to pack or unpack?  Â
Technologically Speaking is a podcast series that delivers insightful, thought-provoking, and unscripted conversations about timely national security challenges and the scientific solutions S&T is developing to tackle them.
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